uplift4.brightnessreef-第41部分

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　more　starkly　un…Jijoan；　by　night　than　it　did　by　day。　In　fact；　we　were　crossing　terrain　much　like　pictures　I've　seen　of　Earth's　moon。
　　Speaking　of　moons；　great　Loocen　sat　low　in　the　west；　the　largest　of　Jijo's　satellites；　a　familiar　reddish　crescent；　though　right　now　the　main　part　facing　us　was　dark；　so　no　sunlight　sparkled　off　the　cold；　dead　cities　the　Buyur　left　there　intact；　as　if　to　taunt　us。
　　Stars　glittered　overhead　like。。。　well；　before　writing　this　down；　I　wracked　my　brain　for　a　parison　out　of　some　book　I've　read；　but　Earthling　authors　never　had　anything　in　their　sky　like　the　Dandelion　Cluster；　a　giant　puff…ball　of　sparkling　pinpoints　taking　up　almost　a　quarter　of　the　sky；　skimming　the　southern　horizon。　I　know　'cause　if　they　did；　they'd　have　peted　to　describe　it　over　and　over；　in　a　million　different　ways。　Visitors　from　the　crowded　north　part　of　the　Slope　always　act　amazed　to　see　it　in　its　glory；　so　I　guess　the　Dandelion's　one　good　thing　about　living　here　at　the　southmost　boonies。
　　It's　also　one　chief　reason　why　Uriel's　predecessor　built　a　telescope　on　that　spot；　and　a　dome　to　protect　it　against　rain　and　ash　from　old　Guenn's　frequent　mini…eruptions。
　　Ur…ronn　says　there's　just　one　part　of　the　mountain　where　the　observatory　can　take　advantage　of　the　sea　breeze　and　not　have　heat　currents　ruin　the　seeing。　There　are　probably　much　better　places　for　astronomy　on　the　Slope。　But　this　spot　has　one　advantage…it's　where　Uriel　lives。　Who　else　has　the　time；　wealth；　and　knowledge　to　maintain　such　a　hobby？　No　one；　except　perhaps　the　savants　of　Great　Biblos。
　　The　heavy　cinderblock　structure　seemed　to　rise　against　the　dazzling　starry　cluster；　reminding　me　of　a　glaver's　muzzle；　taking　a　bite　out　of　a　big　gutchel　pear。　The　sight　made　my　back　scales　frickle。　Of　course　at　this　altitude；　with　no　clouds　in　the　sky；　the　air　had　a　chilly　bite。
　　Whistling　dismay；　Ur…ronn　halted　in　a　sudden　plume　of　dust；　causing　Huck　to　ram　into　me；　eyestalks　pronging　outward；　squinting　in　all　directions　at　once。　Little　Huphu　reacted　by　digging　her　claws　into　my　shoulder；　ready　to　leap　and　abandon　us　at　the　first　sign　of　peril。
　　〃What　is　it！〃　I　whispered　urgently。
　　〃The　roof　is　open；〃　Ur…ronn　explained；　slipping　into　GalTwo　as　her　pointed　snout　sniffed　greedily。　〃The　mercury　float　bearing；　I　do　scent；　therefore　the　telescope　（probably）　is　in　use。　We　must　now　undertake　（swiftly）　to　return　to　our　beds；　not　raising　suspicion。〃
　　〃The　hell　you　say；〃　Huck　cursed。　〃I'm　for　sneakin'　in。〃
　　They　looked　to　me　for　the　deciding　vote。　I　shrugged；　human…style。　〃We're　here。　Ought　to　at　least　take　a　look。〃
　　Ur…ronn　corkscrewed　her　neck。　She　snorted　a　sigh。　〃Stay　behind　me；　in　that　case。　And　in　vain　hope　of　Ifni's　luck；　do　remain　quiet！〃
　　So　we　neared　the　dome　and　made　out　that　the　roof　line　was　split　open；　exposing　blocky　shapes　to　the　shimmering　sky。　The　path　ended　at　a　ground…level　door　ajar…revealing　dim　shadows　within。　Huphu　trembled　on　my　shoulder；　either　from　eagerness　or　from　anxiety。　I　already　regretted　taking　her　along。
　　Ur…ronn　was　an　outline；　pressed　against　the　outer　wall；　snaking　her　head　through　the　door。
　　〃Of　all　utterjeekee　things；　what　could　top　her　scouting　ahead　at　night？〃　Huck　groused。　〃Urs　can't　see　in　the　dark　any　better'n　a　glaver　can　at　noon。　Oughta　let　me　do　it。〃
　　Yeah；　I　thought。　As　if　g'Keks　are　built　for　stealth。　But　I　kept　silent；　except　for　a　low　umble　to　prevent　Huphu　jumping　off。
　　Switching　her　braided　tail　nervously；　Ur…ronn　twisted　her　neck　inside…and　her　long　body　followed；　twisting　nimbly　through　the　doorway。　Huck　followed　close　behind；　all　eyestalks　erect　and　quivering。　Taking　up　the　rear；　I　kept　swiveling　to　check　for　anyone　creeping　behind；　though　of　course　there　was　no　reason　to　imagine　someone　would　want　to。
　　The　main　floor　of　the　observatory　looked　deserted。　The　big　scope　glittered　faintly　under　starlight。　On　a　nearby　table；　one　hooded　lantern　spilled　a　red…filtered　glow　onto　a　clipboarded　sky　chart　and　a　pad　covered　with　what　might　be　mathematical　markings…lots　of　numbers　plus　some　symbols　that　weren't　part　of　any　alphabet。。。　though　now　that　I　think　about　it；　maybe　Mister　Heinz　did　show　some　of　them　to　our　class；　hoping　to　hook　an　interest。
　　〃Listen　and　note；〃　Ur…ronn　said。　〃The　motor　for　tracking　objects　in　pensation　against　Jijo's　rotation；　that　device　is　still　turned　on。〃
　　Sure　enough；　a　low；　hoonlike　rumble　transmitted　from　the　telescope's　case；　and　I　smelled　faint　exhaust　from　a　tiny　fuel　cell　motor。　Another　extravagance　almost　unknown　elsewhere　on　the　Slope　but　allowed　here　because　Mount　Guenn　is　a　sacred　place；　certain　to　cleanse　itself　of　all　toys；　conceits；　and　unreverent　vanities；　if　not　tomorrow　then　sometime　in　the　next　hundred　years。
　　〃That　means　it　may　still　be　pointed　wherever　they　were　looking　before　they　left！〃　Huck　responded　eagerly。
　　Who　says　〃they〃　have　left？…I　was　about　to　add。　Turning　around　again；　I　noticed　a　closed　door　outlined　by　a　pale　rim　of　light。　But　Huck　rushed　on。
　　〃Alvin；　give　me　a　boost　so　I　can　look！〃
　　〃Hr…r…rm？　But…〃
　　〃Alvin！〃　A　wheel　stroked　one　of　my　footpads；　as　a　warning　to　do　what　I　was　told。
　　〃What？　A　boost？〃　I　saw　no　ramp　or　other　way　for　Huck　to　reach　the　scope's　eyepiece；　only　a　chair　resting　next　to　the　table。　Still；　the　best　course　would　be　to　let　her　have　her　way；　as　quickly　and　silently　as　possible；　rather　than　forcing　an　argument。
　　〃Hrrrm。。。　well；　all　right。　But　keep　it　quiet；　will　you？〃
　　I　stepped　behind　Huck；　squatted　down；　and　slung　both　arms　under　her　axle　frame。　I　grunted；　lifting　her　to　bring　one　stalk　level　with　the　eyepiece。
　　〃Hold　still！〃　she　hissed。
　　〃I　am。。。　hrm…rm。。。　trying。。。〃
　　I　let　my　arm　bones　slip　slightly；　so　the　elbow　joints　clicked　into　a　locked　position…a　trick　I'm　told　humans　and　urs　are　jealous　of；　since　even　the　strongest　human　who　tried　this　would　have　to　do　it　using　muscle　power　alone。　Even　so；　Huck　had　put　on　weight；　and　holding　her　in　place　meant　standing　in　a　bent…over　half…squat。　Whenever　I　grunted；　she'd　twist　a　free　stalk　round　to　glare；　just　a　handsbreadth　from　my　face；　as　if　I　was　annoying　her　on　purpose。
　　〃Hold　it；　you　unbuff　hoon！。。。　Okay；　I　can　see　now。。。　a　whole　lot　of　stars。。。　more　stars。。。。　Hey；　there's　nothing　but　stars　in　here！〃
　　〃Huck；〃　I　murmured；　〃did　I　ask　you　to　keep　it　quiet？〃
　　Ur…ronn　whistled　a　sigh。　〃Of　course　there's　only　stars；　you　hoof…stinky　g'Kek！　Did　you　think　you　could　count　the　fortholes　on　an　orviting　starshif　with　this　little　tele…scofe？　At　that　height；　it'll　twinkle　like　any　other　foint　source。〃
　　I　was　impressed。　We　all　know　Ur…ronn　is　the　best　mechanic　in　our　bunch；　but　who　figured　she　knew　astronomy；　as　well？
　　〃Here；　give　ne　a　chance　to　look。　It's　fossible　I　can　tell　which　star　isn't　a　star；　if　its　fosition　changes　in　relation　to　others。〃
　　Huck's　wheels　spun　angrily　in　air；　but　she　could　no　more　deny　the　fairness　of　Ur…ronn's　request　than　keep　me　from　lowering　her　to　the　ground。　I　straightened　with　relief；　and　some　crackling　of　cartilage；　as　she　rolled　away；　grumbling。　Ur…ronn　had　to　put　both　forehooves　on　the　chair　in　order　to　rise　up　and　peer　through　the　eyepiece。
　　For　a　few　moments；　our　urrish　pal　was　silent；　then　she　trilled　frustration。　〃They　really　are　all　just　stars；　far　as　I　can　tell。　Anyway；　I　forgot…a　starshif　in　orvit　would　drift　out　of　view　in　just　a　few　duras；　even　with　the　tracking　engine　turned　on。〃
　　〃Well；　I　guess　that's　it；〃　I　said；　only　half　disappointed。　〃We'd　better　head　on　back　now…〃
　　That's　when　I　saw　that　Huck　was　gone。　Whirling；　I　finally　spied　her；　heading　straight　for　the　doorway　I　had　seen　earlier！
　　〃Remember　what　we　discussed？〃　she　called　rearward　at　us；　speeding　toward　the　back…lit　rectangle。　〃The　real　evidence　will　be　on　those　photographic　plates　you　say　Gybz　spoke　of。　That's　what　we　came　up　here　to　look　at　in　the　first　place。　e　on！〃
　　I　admit　staring　like　a　stranded　fish；　my　throat　sac　blatting　uselessly　while　Huphu　gouged　my　scalp；　gathering　purchase　for　a　spring。　Ur…ronn　took　off　in　a　mad　scramble　after　Huck；　trying　desperately　to　tackle　her　by　the　spokes　before　she　reached　the　door…
　　…which　swung　open；　I　swear；　at　that　very　instant；　casting　a　painful　brightness　that　outlined　a　human　silhouette。　A　short；　narrow…shouldered　male　whose　fringe　of　head　hair　seemed　aflame　in　the　glare　of　several　lanterns　behind　him。　Blinking；　raising　a　hand　to　shade　my　eyes；　I　could　dimly　make　out　several　easels　in　the　room　beyond；　bearing　charts；　measuring　rules；　and　slick　glass　plates。　More　square　plates　lay　racked　on　shelf　after　shelf；　crowding　the　walls　of　the　little　room。
　　Huck　squealed　to　a　stop　so　suddenly　her　axles　glowed。　Ur…ronn　nearly　rammed　her；　halting　in　frantic　haste。　We　all　froze；　caught　in　the　act。
　　The　human's　identity　wasn't　hard　to　guess；　since　only　one　of　his　race　lived　on　the　mountain　at　the　time。　He　was　only　known　far　and　wide　as　the　most　brilliant　of　his　kind；　a　sage　whose　mind　reached　far；　even　for　an　Earthling；　to　grasp　many　of　the　arcane　secrets　that　our　ancestors　once　knew。　One　whose　intellect　even　the　mighty　self…assured　Uriel　bowed　before。
　　The　Smith　of　Mount　Guenn　was　not　going　to　be　pleased　with　us　for　intruding　on　her　guest。
　　Sage　Purofsky　stared　for　a　long　moment；　blinking　into　the　darkness　beyond　the　doorway；　then　he　raised　a　hand　straight　toward　us；　pointing。
　　〃You！〃　he　snapped　in　a　strangely　distracted　tone　of　voice。　〃You　surprised　me。〃
　　Huck　was　the　first　of　us　to　recover。
　　〃Um；　sorry。。。　uh；　master。　We　were　just；　er。。。〃
　　Cutting　her　off；　but　without　any　trace　of　rancor；　the　human　went　on。
　　〃It's　just　as　well；　then。　I　was　about　to　ring　for　somebody。　Would　you　kindly　take　these　notes　to　Uriel　for　me？〃
　　He　held　out　a　folded　sheaf　of　papers；　which　Huck　accepted　in　the　grasp　of　one　quivering　tentacle…arm。　Her　half…retracted　eyestalks　blinked　in　surprise。
　　〃That's　a　good　lad；〃　the　savant　went　on　absentmindedly；　and　turned　to　go　back　into　the　little　room。　Then　Sage　Purofsky　stopped　and　swiveled　to　face　us　once　more。
　　〃Oh；　please　also　tell　Uriel　that　I'm　now　sure　of　it。　Both　ships　are　gone。　I　don't　know　what　happened　to　the　bigger　one；　the　first　one；　since　it　appeared　only　by　lucky　accident　o